April 16, 2014

“RISE YE UP, TAKE YOUR JOURNEY”

“RISE YE UP, TAKE YOUR JOURNEY…” Deu. 2:24 (KJV) That text tells us someone is sitting that God is trying to encourage to RISE UP, and start THEIR JOURNEY “For you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. for when you have stood the test, you will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Let’s start today in John 5:1-15 (NKJV) “Then Jesus said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there, He knew his condition and how long he had been there, but He asked him anyway, WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE?

Christ knew this water had no supernatural power to heal, because the very source of life stood right in front of him. But how does Christ come into one’s presence and you are not aware. Is it possible to be paralyzed for 38 years with no desire TO BE MADE WHOLE by the Masters touch?

Maybe the man had just gotten used to his way of life? The poolside was a familiar and safe environment. My friends as Christians have we gotten familiar with our environment and the comfort of sitting.

Have we become so complacent, lackadaisical, and self-indulgent, that we have forgotten how to respond to Jesus presence as we live the comfortable and easy life with no desire to change or BE MADE WHOLE spiritually.

When Jesus ask the man at the pool “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man’s heart did not thrill with anticipation of being healed. Instead, in verse 7 he told Jesus his hard luck story. “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

For 38 years the man was looking for something physically and I hope spiritually that now stood right in front of Him. And I can say without a doubt that Christ stands in our presence today, as He also ask us to “RISE UP, AND TAKE OUR JOURNEY.”

The apostle Paul, tells us in 2 Cor. 11:16-33 (KJV) “Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting…..

I have worked hard, been in prison frequently, been flogged severely, exposed to death. Five times I received forty lashes minus one. Three times beaten with rods, once pelted with stones, shipwrecked three times, I spent  nights in the open sea, I am constantly on the move.

Been in danger from rivers, and bandits, in danger from Jews, and Gentiles; in danger in the city, and in the country, in danger at sea; and from false believers. I have labored and toiled and gone without sleep; I know hunger and thirst, I have been cold and naked.”

Friends, let’s go back to Paul’s Damascus road experience before all of  his trials started “and suddenly a light from heaven flashed about him, and he fell to the ground.” Now this is the part of this story where I really need you to focus today.

And Paul said “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM, ARISE,…” Acts 9:6 (KJV) and from that point on He Never looked back. 2 Tim. 4:7-8 (KJV) Paul tells us.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

“Sometimes we delay our decisions and actions TO START OUR JOURNEY because of fear and vulnerability. Most often we are still hung up on the past, overwhelmed by circumstance of the present, or battling between deception and truth about our situation of the future. Confusion settles in, we look at our life and decide why should I “RISE UP,” I’M HAPPY” So our solution is, we sit on our mat by the pool of Bethesda. Today God still extends His grace my friends. We still have time, CHRIST STILL PLACES “THE JOURNEY BEFORE US. But it will end soon. And He will say “IT IS FINISHED”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

April 15, 2014

“I STAND ACCUSED, BUT LOVE PAID THE PRICE, THE VERDICT IS IN; NOT GUILTY”!!!

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?  Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. 1 Peter 4:17-19 (NASB)

“I STAND ACCUSED, there’s a list a mile long of all my sins, of everything that I’ve done wrong. I’m so ashamed, there’s nowhere left for me to hide, this is the day I must answer for my life. My fate is in the Judges hands.

But then he turns to me and says. I know you, I love you I gave my life to save you, Love paid the price for mercy. My verdict, NOT GUILTY. How can it be, I cannot begin to comprehend What kind of Grace would take the place for all my sins. I STAND IN AWE.

Now that I have been set free and the tears well up as I look at that Cross ‘Cause it should’ve been me, My fate was in the nail scarred hands, He stretched them out for me and said…I know you, I love you I gave my life to save you Love paid the price, for Mercy My verdict, not guilty.

I’m falling on my knees to thank You With everything I am. I praise You. So grateful for the words I heard you say. I know you, I love you, I gave my life…just to save you, Love paid the price, for Mercy My verdict is, NOT GUILTY. (Mandisa)

Friends each day we must place it on the altar before Christ as we ask Him to “Wash (us) thoroughly from (our) iniquity,and cleanse (us) from (our) sins! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.” Ps. 51:2-4 (ESV) And once our Savior takes over our life completely.

When that day of judgment comes He will look at His sinless Child, who stands before Him, who has been washed in the blood that He shed on Calvary, and say with no reservation NOT GUILTY, AND WE WILL STAND IN AWE.

But friends there is a PROCESS, a TESTING of our ENDURANCE and FAITH before you can hear those words NOT GUILTY. For Christ tells us “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ESV) So as God’s Children, and His chosen WE MUST OVERCOME THE WORLD ALSO because “you dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4(NIV)

“Throughout his administration, Abraham Lincoln was a president under fire, especially during the scarring years of the Civil War. And though he knew he would make errors of office, he resolved never to compromise his integrity. So strong was this resolve that he once said.

“I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be DOWN INSIDE OF ME.”

And my friends as God’s Child it will always be the saving power of Christ through His Spirit DOWN INSIDE OF US and once LIVING FOR CHRIST becomes THE PASSION OF CHRIST, and His blood that flows through our veins.

Then God can say with full assurance NOT GUILTY AS I STAND IN AWE!! “before him in the kingdom “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10(NIV)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

April 14, 2014

COMPLETE MAKEOVER, AS SELF DIES, AND LIFE BEGINS IN CHRIST!!!

My friends we must escalate Christ to the highest ranking position of our life. Nothing can be above him. He must be the focal point as our eyes are forever “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,” So as we escalate Christ to His new position we will begin to diminish self to the point of DEATH.

We become irrelevant  as we recognize self will never be about us again as we subject our small and insignificant Minds and desires to the greater cause of following Christ and telling others of the good news of Christ soon return as we approach the end of this great controversy between good and evil.

Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” But once again there must be a passion to eliminate self from our life.

“Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:11-14 (NASB)

And this transformation will take place as our Faith and belief in the Saving power of  our Savior allows us to have a deeper and personal, relationship with Him and His Word. And each day you will wake up renewed in the grace of God as you tell yourself.

“I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 (NKJV) A London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling.

The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the property.

Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. “Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said. “When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different.

I don’t want the building; I want the site.” And my friends that is the restoration and renewal God has planned for our lives for that is what Calvary was all about, our efforts to improve our own lives are insignificant, everything must go.

A TOTAL MAKEOVER  in the blood of our Savior must take place. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17 (KJV)

Friends remember the controversy and battle will be fought and won through our death to self and resurrection of a new life in Jesus Christ as we carry the same cross as Christ carried and our acceptance of His resurrection from the dead.

But we must never be complacent we must never remove the armor Christ has given us. For the god of this world continues “to move about seeking who he may devour” So with self dead we can say without any reservations

“If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?…But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God,” Rom. 8:31-39 (NASB)  AS SELF DIES, AND LIFE BEGINS IN CHRIST!!!

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

April 13, 2014

STUDY FOR THE TRUTH MY FRIENDS, PLEASE STUDY!!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 (KJV)

TRUTH the original Greek word meant alétheia in religious matters; So what is TRUTH in things appertaining to God and the duties of man and a Child of God in today’s society where man has decided His own interpretation of things pertaining to God, instead of allowing  the Spirit of God and His word to Guide.

When Christianity was first introduced in the period after the death of Christ you had The GNOSTIC which appeared similar to CHRISTIANITY. GNOSTIC “is a knowledge from experience, especially experience of divinity or that which is beyond the five senses.

The word Gnosis does not refer to knowledge that we are told or believe in. Gnosis is conscious, experiential knowledge,” But what I need you to focus on today is the fact that the GNOSTIC had a form of Christianity or “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

Like the wheat and tares, the similarity is the same. Matt 24:11-12 (KJV) tells us that “many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

I believe those text were put together because a false prophet is one who claims to speak from God, and claims power in what he is prophesying But in reality is led by the god of this world. So to deceive in the name of God is cold and heartless.

So TRUTH my friends is what we all should seek, if you also seek God’s kingdom. But with so many voices claiming to speak in the name of the Lord. Where, or who do we go to for the TRUTH.

John tells us in John 16:13 (NKJV) “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

And as we Study Gods word it “is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12 (NKJV)

So as God’s chosen, if I follow the councils of God in His word, while allowing the Spirit to lead, a Child of God will never be lead astray by false prophets. But we must seek Salvation with a Passion like Jeremiah When God’s words (come to us, we must eat them;) they (must be our joy, and heart’s delight,) Jer. 15:16 (NIV)

As we “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2Tim 2:15 (KJV) “God has been pleased to communicate His truth to the world by human agencies, and He Himself, by His Holy Spirit, qualified men and enabled them to do this work.

He guided the mind in the selection of what to speak and what to write. The treasure was entrusted to earthen vessels, yet it is, nonetheless, from Heaven. The testimony is conveyed through the imperfect expression of human language, yet it is the testimony of God;

and the obedient, believing child of God beholds in it the glory of a divine power, full of grace and truth. In His Word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His will.

They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience. “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV) (E.G. White Great Controversy)

Remember friends what Christ says of Satan “there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it….(and that includes false Prophets.) He who is of God hears God’s words;” John 8:44-47 (NKJV)  So STUDY MY FRIENDS PLEASE STUDY

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

BREAKING NEWS!! BREAKING NEWS!! “THIS IS THE DAY.”

THIS IS THE DAY which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Ps 118:24 (KJV)

My friends I am sure we all can begin to “Count the years as months Count the months as weeks Count the weeks as days any day now We’ll be goin’ home.” I remember as a kid once Thanksgiving came you knew Christmas was right around the corner.

The waiting, and anticipation as the days got closer and closer. Today as I look back on that time I even miss the anticipation of the wait. And then that day came and my parents never disappointed us. I can here my mother beating that pan with a spoon at five in the morning “THIS IS THE DAY.”

They always made sure that day was everything to us and more. Today I fill that anticipation for Christ return because I can say with some assurance that as a child of God we all can begin to “count the weeks as days.” I know, it aint over until God says it’s over.

But friends we are at the threshold. I know we must keep fighting, praying, as we continue to build our faith and endurance for the victory is ours. Satan is on the ropes, and He’s about to fall never to be a component in our life, or Salvation ever again.

“… For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 3:13-14

Yes our life as we move closer to that day is like vapor that appeareth and then vanish but soon the “Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:

And the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Dr. F.W. Boreham tells a story about his stay in a cottage in England occupied by a minister’s widow. She had given him her bedroom, in the morning when he pulled up the blind, he saw that into the glass of the windowpane had been cut the words: “THIS IS THE DAY.”

He asked the elderly lady about it at breakfast. She explained that she had had a lot of trouble in her time and was always afraid of what was going to happen tomorrow. One day she read the words of the text in Psalm 118:24 “THIS IS THE DAY the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

It occurred to her that it meant any day, this day. “Why should I be afraid of the days if He makes them?” So the widow scratched the words as well as she could in the windowpane, so that every time she drew her blind in the morning she was reminded that “THIS IS THE DAY.”

Yes my friends that must be how we live our lives each day. But it will only have meaning if we live it with Passion, and anticipation that “THIS IS THE DAY.” But if we don’t see the clouds open and Christ with his army of angels coming to take the redeemed home.

That only means we still have work to do as we spread the good news of Christ return with DRIVE and PASSION with the words forever on our lips. It wasn’t today, but it will be tomorrow, and as I wait, and work for Christ daily the “Lord, (will be) a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” Ps. 3:3-5 because “BREAKING NEWS!! “THIS IS THE DAY.” Will soon be here.  

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

April 11. 2014

THE WORD OF GOD THAT LIVES INSIDE OF ME!!

The world was created by the Spoken Word of God. This world and the very existence of life was conceived by God in the spirit, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Gen 1:2 (NKJV)

So what this should tell a  Child of God is that God’s Word brings about a transformation that can only come about when we “Study to show thyself approved unto God,” Gen 1:1 (KJV) tells us “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth”

John 1:1 (NKJV) tells us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

“The creative force that brought about the existence of our world is the Word, And the Word is God. The Word at the beginning of John 1 is linked by this passage to the first words spoken by God at the beginning, when he says “‘Let there be light’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:3 (NKJV)

Every command is a promise, accepted by the will, and received into the soul, and it also brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms our nature, and re-creates our character into the image of God.”(Ellen G. White.)

And once our lives are transformed then we will begin to understand through faith in the Word of God, that a miracle has truly taken place in our lives. Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17-18 (NKJV) “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

All this is from God. who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” And once we have completely given it all to the master we allow His full armor of righteousness to protect us against the forces of evil who’s only goal is to destroy us.

Remember my friends The Word of God is the foundation that transforms our lives, and when the mind is saturated with the Word, a transformed life brought on by the Word of God is the greatest confirmation of a true renewal of our character.

And when our character is rooted in the Word of God, and continues to be rooted, it is an experience that lasts throughout our lives here on earth, and will also carry us throughout the ceaseless ages of Eternity.

If we reject knowing the knowledge in Gods word, due to the fact that we allowed the things of this world to become detrimental to our salvation, because they were more important than studying the Word of God and doing His will.

There will then be “a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. Johm 12:48 (NIV)

Remember our “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word about Christ.” who died in our place on Calvary so we could live with Him in His pure and holy kingdom.

Oh what love But it did not end with His death on the cross. He rose again and the word still lives! Yes He lives. “And I serve that same risen Savior because He is in my life today. I know that He is living in me, no matter what men may say. I know He lives inside of me, because I see His hand of mercy grace and love as I begin to truly hear, and feel God and His Word, while allowing my faith to grow in His grace. And once we continue to focus on Christ and His word. We will find that God will glorify Himself in us through His Word, and we have God’s assurance, which is based totally on His love for us and THE WORD OF GOD THAT LIVES INSIDE OF US!!

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

April 10, 2014

“WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH”

“May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passed knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph. 3:18-19 (KJV)

My friends as I look at the world today I sit and wonder. What would make a sixteen year old kid stab 18 of his classmates killing one? Or a soldier who seemed to have had everything to live for. A career, lovely family, and then decides to kill his fellow soldiers, before he turns the gun on himself?

I wonder what was the last thought he had before he pulled that trigger that ended his life? Was there a VISION of  his lovely wife and child, or the parents who raised him, or the friends he played hide and seek with as a kid, maybe a favorite pet he love, or brother he adored, or a favorite teacher.

So many things could have flashed through his mind in a instant before that trigger was pulled. Everything except the glory of God, and our Savior entering through the clouds above. So my friends I can say with full assurance from the Savior who gave it all for my salvation.

If your life does not end in the mercy and grace of a risen Savior. All we have accomplished and done on this earth weather we have reached the PEAK of our dreams and become President of the USA, or beyond. it is all as dung, if Christ is not at the center of our life.

“And I count all things but loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but DUNG, that I may win Christ,” Phill. 3:8 (KJV)

350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the coast of America. They established a town site. And elected a town government. After being there awhile the town government made plans to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.

But the people protested because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Why is the question? Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But were not able to see five miles into the wilderness. (Lynn Anderson)

Why again we may ask? Because They had lost their vision to Go any further. Friends what about you as a child of God. Do you have a clear vision of what direction you are going to finish this journey God has placed us on. And does it end in the Kingdom.

Have we ceased to hope because of the god of this world? Have we lost sight of Christ and His promises in His word. “WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH” Prov. 29:18 (KJV) Without our VISION focused on Calvary we PARISH.

Without our VISION focused on the Saving power of our Savior, without our VISION focused on God’s Spirit, Without our VISION not focused on the promises in God’s word, WE PARISH. And it is impossible to move beyond our current boundaries at least those boundaries that leads to life eternal.

Friends, If we allow the forces of evil to lead us, our VISION will only lead to perdition. Deuteronomy 11:16 tells us to “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them.

Jesus  will keep our VISION focused on Him if we seek His Presence, For He will quench our spiritual thirst. But He must be the VISION and hope we seek daily, a PASSION, or A THIRST for what Our God is willing to give us if we have FAITH.

Psalm 42:1 & 2 (NKJV) says: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.” Today we need to recognize our need to THIRST for Christ like never before as we keep our focus and VISION on things above, and Not on the things of this world that one day will pass away. Remember “WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

April 9, 2014

“I WILL TURN ALL MY MOUNTAINS INTO ROADS”  (Isaiah 49:11)

“They shall neither hunger nor thirst neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them. I will make each of My Mountains a road, and My highways shall be elevated.” Isaiah 49:10-11 (NKJV)

“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.” “If you are a chosen vessel unto (God,) to bear (His) name before the Gentiles, and kings..” Acts 9:15 (KJV)

My friends the Mercy and grace of God has laid out a direction for our lives, a Road map that leads to Calvary which places before us the HEAVY LOAD and RESPONSIBILITY of the cross that Christ willingly carried to His death.

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matt. 16:24 (NIV) So many situations, and circumstances each day try and keep us from getting to the top of that Mountain especially while trying to carry a cross at the same time we climb.

But our God’s promise that “He WILL TURN ALL OF OUR MOUNTAINS INTO ROADS” and My highways shall be elevated and each Mountain and stretch of highway on this Journey Christ has placed us on leads in only one direction, to His pure and Holy Kingdom.

As we enter those pearly gates I see our Savior with outstretched hands telling each of us I will take that now as he replaces our cross with the wings of angels, and a “white robe which is a symbol of purity which our Character is now.

And as pure as the one who Gave it all for our Salvation “and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2 (NKJV)

And a palm branch is then placed in our hands “which in Israel was a symbol of national liberation and blessing, and attended the First Coming of the King to Jerusalem” Jesus Christ. John 12:13 (NIV)

I can now only imagine in the case of the redeemed, it represents our liberation from the god of this world, a liberation for all eternity, at Christ second coming as he places a Crown on our head that represents the suffering of times past. As we remember the promises of His word while on earth that states.

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Rev. 2:10-11(NKJV)

My friends that verse speaks for itself. Life eternal as we will forever be honored worthy “For (our) sake we (were) killed all day long; (for) we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

”Yet in all these things we are (now) more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For (we are now) persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, (nor anything that was ever created was) able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:36-39 (NKJV)

Once again I lay it out before you. A vision that gives each of us something to work towards but IT MUST BECOME A PASSION. A PASSION to give up everything in accordance with God’s will, and His precepts. Friends, now is the time to turn our life completely over to God’s Spirit.

As we seek the Presence of Christ, and allow Him to  transforms our Character in the very likeness of our Savior while preparing us for our new home for “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Heb. 9:28 (NIV)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

April 8, 2014

“THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US.” 1 Samuel 7:12 (NKJV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” John 14:1-31 (ESV)

My Friends as I look back, at times the long distances down a highway, even as a kid traveling with my parents sometimes the stretch of road seemed endless. Every gas station, and rest stop there is a THUS FAR, as you get back into the car and continue.

Friends, This journey to the promise land is a long one so many stops along the way, so many “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US.” in Sickness, death, heartache, pain, so many miles on life’s highway, but, THUS FAR we still see the SON shining and today He is as bright as ever.

Sometimes if we take a “moment to rest….to look back over the distance we have traveled, we realize we can only rest for a moment,…and we dare not linger” for the Journey has not ended.

“Every step in life should be that of faith, of love of consecration! We should walk in the light, as Jesus is in the light. Christ offers to walk with us through all the journey of life, and cheer our way by his presence. If we do not avail ourselves of his companionship, it is our own fault, our own loss.

If we grope in darkness, it is because we refuse the presence of the only one who can make our way bright and joyful. We need to cultivate that faith which works by love, and purifies the soul. Our greatest danger is in harboring unbelief, and neglecting to cherish the precious love of Jesus.” (E.G.White)

On this road we travel as we face trials and tragedies, highs and lows of life, ” we can always see our lives  being subject to two forces with a gradient wind representing everything changeable, unpredictable, and distressing.

“But operating simultaneously with these gusts of wind is another force that’s even more powerful. It is the sure movement of God’s wise and sovereign purposes, the deep flow of His unchanging love and the power of his Spirit and what that all means to a Child of God.”

Unlike Thomas who stated to Chris “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” If you seek Christ and His presence with a passion each day my friends you know where our Savior went when He left this earth the first time.

A Child of God knows our Savior left “to prepare a place for you” and we know in Rev. 21:21 (NIV) that John gives us a small glimpse of what He has prepared for us. “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.”

And a Child of God knows Paul gives us another glimpse of what our Savior is preparing for His faithful in 1 Cor. 2:9 (NIV) “no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

And a Child of God knows, if you are faithful and endure He will return to “take you with Him, that where He is, you may be also.” And a Child of God knows, when this journey is over that “God will wipe away every tear from (our) eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”Rev.21:4 (NKJV) my friends “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US” to make it on this Journey. Let’s continue through our faith and endurance to not stop until we have crossed over into the promise land.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

April 7, 2014

IT IS WHEN I AM WEAK THAT I AM REALLY STRONG!!!

“Yes, I am glad to have weaknesses if they are for Christ. I am glad to be insulted and have hard times. I am glad when I am persecuted and have problems, because it is when I am weak that I am really strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10 (ERV)

Thank you Lord for all of the trials and tribulation in my life. That doesn’t sound right, thanking God for that unbearable thorn in our life that seems to penetrate deeper and deeper until it has become almost unbearable. The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century.

Sometime during the rite, St. Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king’s foot. After the baptism was over, St. Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had done, and begged the king’s forgiveness. Why did you suffer this pain in silence, the Saint wanted to know. The king replied, “I thought it was part of the ritual.”

A Child of God. The trials we endure each day, would this be considered a ritual or a “Right of Passage” on this journey God has placed us on while enduring suffering with a passion of delight as long as it is for Christ and His purpose for my life. Definition of a “Right of Passage” tells us.

It is a Ceremony that marks an important transitional period in a person’s life, it usually involves ritual activities and teachings designed to strip individuals of their original roles and prepare them for new roles. That my friends is where I need you to focus at today. The quote “TEACHINGS DESIGNED TO STRIP INDIVIDUALS OF THEIR ORIGINAL ROLES AND PREPARE THEM FOR NEW ROLES.”

“And she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months in the river” Pharaohs daughter finds the child, and hires Moses Sister Marian to take care of the baby “When the child grew older, Marian took the child to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

When Moses was grown he kills an Egyptian who was fighting a Hebrew “When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian,…” Ex, 2,3 Then, Forty years later Moses was called by God to be the leader of the Israelite nation. Where he lead Israel 40 years, before his death.

“And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said.” Deu. 34:5 (NIV) Now let’s move our attention to Jude 9:1 (NIV) “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Also Mark states in Mark 9:4 (NIV) “And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.” So Moses went from A fugitive baby, to Pharaoh’s adopted Grandson and future king of Egypt, too once again becoming a fugitive for the murder of an Egyptian, to exile in a foreign land for 40 years, to going back to Egypt and becoming leader of Israel for another 40 years until his death.

Then, Michael the archangel claimed his body and now he sits in the heavenly Realms of God’s kingdom. Paul tells us in Phill. 3:10 (NIV) “..and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

And that my friends is where all of our sufferings takes us. Because one day “by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be”1 Thess. 4:15-17 (NKJV)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY